Portugal
Europe · Southern Europe
Europe's friendliest for remote workers: mild climate, very low crime, NHR tax regime.
Digital Nomad
Ideal destination
Expat
Ideal destination
Retiree
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Portugal's Human Development Index
0.874
Very High human development#41 of 191 countries worldwide, #29 of 44 in Europe.
Higher than 79% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Portugal
Portugal is a small Atlantic country on the western edge of Europe with a reputation earned by its light, its seafood, its melancholic fado music, and a culture that opens gradually and rewards patience. Lisbon and Porto have both become celebrated destinations for their tiled architecture, hilly streets, and food and wine culture, while the Algarve coast and Alentejo interior offer very different pleasures. Those who connect with the Portuguese temperament of warmth, nostalgia, and good bread will find it hard to leave.
- Oldest national borders in Europe, unchanged since 1297.
- The world's biggest surfing waves are found here — Nazaré regularly exceeds 30 metres.
- Invented the Age of Exploration: Vasco da Gama, Magellan, and the first global trade routes.
Quick Facts
Capital
Lisbon
Language
Portuguese
Currency
€ EUR
Area
91,606 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
242Mbps
Mobile
136Mbps
Digital Nomad Visa
Min. Income
€2,820/mo
Duration
4 months
Renewable
Yes
Application Fee
~€90
~$99
GDP / Capita
$32K
PPP / Capita
$53K
Inflation
2.3%
Unemployment
6.2%
Innovation (GII)
43.9
GNI / Capita
$30K
Tax Revenue
22.3%
FDI Inflows
4.3%
Education Spend
4.6%
Cost of Living
48.8
Price Level Index
27th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.703 → 0.874 (+0.171)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Portugal for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Neighbouring Countries
Portugal head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Portugal's Human Development Index?
Portugal's Human Development Index is 0.874 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #41 of 191 countries.
Is Portugal safe?
Portugal scores 1.43 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #7 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Portugal?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Portugal at 48.8 (New York = 100); that is #94 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Portugal?
Life expectancy at birth in Portugal is 82.4 yrs (World Bank), ranked #23 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Portugal?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Portugal at 169.5, ranked #28 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.